The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-02-24
FITZ LEES LITTLE JOKE.
How He Captured Yankee O6ioer's
Vallse.
est. Louis Globe -Democrat.)

est. Louis Globe -Democrat)
In 1861 Fitzhugh Lee, now Governor
OF Virginia, was commanding the Con-
tederate outpost in Fairfax county as
Colonel of cavalry. Colonel Tannant,
who was an intimate friend and class
mate Of Lees at West Point, was in
command of the Union cavalry outpost
near Alexandria. One day Tannant re-
celved orders to advance and feel the
Confederate position in front. A bat
TALON of men, made up from the depart
ments and the city of Washington, called
the Presidents Body Guard, was assign
ed him to make the advance. He said to
friend before leaving:
81 want soldiers with me on this ex-
pedition. [ know Fitz Lee, 1 have slept
with him, and whenever we come togeth-
er somebody will have to do some good
h8htlng or fast running. L know Fitz
Will hight. If l had soldiers and not
theSe drcss-parade fellows, l would be
ucn8htcd to give my friend brush, Just
TO let INN see how nicely we can whip
nm back into the Union"
In the meantime his wife had packed
his yallse with clean linen and o bottle
OF Old Hennessey brandy. When every-
thing was ready Colonel Tannant took
up the line of march along the Fairfax
and Alexandria turnpike, in the direc-
ton OF Fairfax Court House. After the
command had advanced few miles and
come to halt to rest, the Colonel ad-
dressed his men in the following words.
"Attentionl battalion: L am now
speaking to you as soldiers who have en-
listed to defend your country, and as
fellow citizens. / want every man to do
his duty in the timo of battle as O soldier
should. If there are any of you who are
not willing to do this, step three PAGES
to the front"
Not man moved They stood like
wall of granite. This gave the Colonel
much encouragement.
"Now, my soldiers" said he, "with
this determination on your part, we will
continue our advance and drive the
enemy back, or capture tho entire
force"
Within few miles of tho courthouse
they encountered tho Confederate pick
OTIS, and succeeded in driving them back.
This gave tho command new courage.
On they pushed. But, alas! Soon
Turner Ashby, with his Black Horse
Cavalry, came charging on their flank,
Whllo fltz Lee pressed them in front.
The engagement began to get interesting,
when suddenly Pelham's Horse Artillery
'llmbered on the left flank, and began
to poul CALLING fire into Tannant's
ranks. He rode to the front, leading
the charge against Fitz Lee on the other
side. The men seeing the situation be-
came domoralized and retreated in con-
fusion, falling back to Alexandria. The
Union forces lost few killed and some
prisoners. Colonel Tannant's headuuar-
ters ambulance was captured, with his
ratlOns and baggage.
a few days after the fight dilapidated
team drove up to his headquarters with
the letters &c. S. A." branded on the
skeleton mules, and in dim white letters
on the side Of the topless ambulance also
appeared &c. S. A." and the drivers,
Instead of wearing the blue had on q suit
OF gray. The driver entered Colonel
Tannnnt's tent with military salute,
bearing III his hand the Colonel's valise.
"Wherc did you come from?" de-
mandcd the Colonel
81 came from Colonel Fitz Lees head
quarters" was the reply. "He snapped
teams and clothes with me and told me
could come back and bring your valise,
and here it is, Colonel"
"All right, my man, said the Colonel.
No 10 your quarters ana cnanBe your
uniform, and report for duty"
Colonel Tnnnnnt took tho valise over
to his wife's room and opened it. The
contents of the valise were note which
ran i'll the following words:
"Outpost Confederate Army, Virginia.
My Dear Tant: [ have opened your
raliso, appropriated your billed shirts for
n change, and also your bottle of old
ucnncsscy for bad cold. L traded
ambulanccs and teams also. When you
come out again bring moro commissary
and quartcrmaStCr stores. FITZ."
Colonel Innnnnt kept the notc until
the close of the war, telling no one about
1t but his faithful and loving wife.
Iannant has been living in Tennessee
since the war, Rccently he and Lee
met and u bottle of old Hennessey WAS
liun11nnnl